EDA awards $4.7 million for Utica Main Line Revitalization

The Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded more than $4.7 million in federal disaster funding for the Chenango Industrial Development Agency (IDA) to move forward with the Utica Main Rail Line Revitalization project in New York.

"I am thrilled to announce this grant, which will keep our effort to revitalize the Utica Main Rail Line moving at full speed. Restoring the rail line will make businesses throughout Chenango County more competitive by making transporting goods easier and cheaper," said U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY).

Service was suspended on more than 40 miles of track after a 100-year flood in 2006, making it impossible to send goods from Binghamton to Utica and cutting off access to important interchanges enabling goods to travel to farther locals by rail.

"This grant is exactly the kind of smart public infrastructure investment that can attract new businesses to the area, foster private sector job growth and economic revitalization. What's more, this project will make the rail line more resilient to future disasters. I was proud to advocate to the federal Economic Development Agency for the Chenango IDA and look forward to seeing construction get underway," Schumer said.